Lake Malawi cichlids — species, locations & maps

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Genus:	Aulonocara
Type locality:	Kande Island, Lake Malawi.
Biotope:	Intermediate habitat. Forages over sand close to rocky areas; males maintain caves among rocks. Most common at shallow depths between 3 and 10 m, with breeding males typically around 8 m.
Geographic distribution:	Endemic to Lake Malawi. Restricted to Kande Island.
Typical adult size:	Males up to 13 cm; females up to 10 cm.
Sexual dimorphism:	Clear. Males develop strong breeding coloration with a distinct head blaze. Females are smaller and silvery, differing from most other Aulonocara females, which tend to be dull brown-grey.
Recommended aquarium size:	400 L (minimum tank length 130 cm)
Aquarium setup:	Fine sand substrate with open sandy areas interrupted by small groups of rocks that provide caves. Keep one male with 1–2 females, or alternatively in larger groups (e.g. several males with a larger group of females) if sufficient space and hiding places are available. House only with peaceful cichlids; mbuna are generally too aggressive.
Diet:	Carnivorous. Feeds on small insect larvae and crustaceans taken from the sand. Uses enlarged cephalic sensory pores to detect prey movements beneath the substrate. Some individuals possess enlarged molar-like pharyngeal teeth, suggesting that small snails may also form part of the diet.
Breeding:	Maternal mouthbrooder. Males defend territories at the edge of the rocky habitat, with spawning taking place inside caves at bottom level. Females forage in large schools, often numbering over 100 individuals, on open sand away from the rocks.
Aggression:	Low. A peaceful species that does not compete well with aggressive cichlids. Territorial behavior is mainly limited to breeding males.
Special notes:	Closely related to Aulonocara maylandi but differs mainly in the coloration of the head blaze in males; females of both species are indistinguishable. Both species are also characterized by producing very large broods of small fry. Listed as Vulnerable due to its extremely restricted distribution and intense local fishing pressure around Kande Island, where individuals are often caught incidentally in nets. In aquaria, this species can grow significantly larger than in the wild, occasionally reaching up to 16 cm.